Abortion

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many women aged (a) 18, (b) 17, (c) 16, (d) 15, (e) 14, (f) 13 and (g) 12 years old in each strategic health authority area who had had (1) one, (2) two, (3) three, (4) four, (5) five, (6) six, (7) seven, (8) eight, (9) nine and (10) 10 or more previous abortions had an abortion in 2010.

Earl Howe: The information we can provide is shown in the following table. Ages and numbers of abortions are grouped where totals are less than 10 or where a presented total would reveal a suppressed value from previous published data.
	
		
			 Previous abortions by age under 19 and Strategic Health Authority of residence, 2010. 
			   Age   
			 Strategic Health Authority Previous abortions under 18 18 Total under age 19 
			 East of England 0 1,450 761 2,211 
			  1+ 126 131 257 
			  Total 1,576 892 2,468 
			 East Midlands 0 1,081 599 1,680 
			  1+ 65 97 162 
			  Total 1,146 696 1,842 
			 London 0 2,304 1361 3665 
			  1+ 340 408 748 
			  Total 2,644 1,769 4,413 
			 North East 0 781 365 1,146 
			  1+ 40 48 88 
			  Total 821 413 1,234 
			 North West 0 2,266 1305 3,571 
			  1+ 156 221 377 
			  Total 2,422 1,526 3,948 
			 South Central 0 844 519 1,363 
			  1+ 66 66 132 
			  Total 910 585 1,495 
			 South East 0 1,151 665 1,816 
			  1+ 98 124 222 
			  Total 1,249 789 2,038 
			 South West 0 1,231 736 1,967 
			  1+ 90 101 191 
			  Total 1,321 837 2,158 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 0 1,526 791 2,317 
			  1+ 107 114 221 
			  Total 1,633 905 2,538 
			 West Midlands 0 1,707 965 2,672 
			  1+ 161 198 359 
			  Total 1,868 1,163 3,031 
			 Wales 0 825 492 1,317 
			  1+ 45 61 106 
			  Total 870 553 1,423 
			 England and Wales 0 15,166 8,559 23,725 
			  1+ 1,294 1,569 2,863 
			  Total 16,460 10,128 26,588 
		
	
	Notes:
	Ages and number of previous abortions are grouped where totals are less than 10 (between 0 and 9) or where a presented total would reveal a suppressed value from previously published data.

Access to Work

Baroness Goudie: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many applications were made under the Access to Work scheme for interpreting services in each year since 2005.

Lord Freud: The information requested is not routinely collected and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	Cumulative data about the numbers and types of people who are helped by Access to Work is published quarterly on the DWP website. The latest data, published in April 2011, covered the period from April to December 2010. Data on the number of customers helped by Access to Work is only available back to April 2007.
	The table below shows the number of customers helped by Access to Work each financial year since 2007 and, of those, how many said that their primary need for support was because of a difficulty in hearing.
	
		
			 Financial Year Total AtW customers helped Difficulty in hearing 
			 2007-08 27,720 4,450 
			 2008-09 32,130 4,920 
			 2009-10 37,300 5,460 
			 Q1, Q2, and Q3 2010-11 32,680 4,970

Access to Work

Baroness Goudie: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many applications were approved under the Access to Work scheme for interpreting services in each year since 2005.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many hours of interpreting support were provided under the Access to Work scheme in each of the past five years.

Lord Freud: The information requested is not routinely collected and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Afghanistan

The Earl of Sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many casualties have been suffered by the Royal Navy in (a) the campaign in Afghanistan, and (b) in other recent actions.

Lord Astor of Hever: The information requested in respect of Naval service personnel for the period 1 January 2001 (the earliest date for which casualty information is available) to 15 May 2011 (the latest date for which casualty information is available) is provided in the following table:
	
		
			 Operation Total Royal Navy Royal Marines 
			 Op HERRICK1 338 41 297 
			 Other2 80 65 15 
		
	
	This data includes surviving casualties reported through the notification of casualties reporting system. Fatalities are not included. Individuals have been included if they sustained injuries, illnesses or natural causes while assigned to an operation, regardless of whether this was the result of hostile action, and include all severity classifications, from very seriously injured/ill to unlisted.
	1 From 7 October 2001 (the start of operations in Afghanistan)
	2 Includes casualties sustained in Op TELIC (January 2003-July 2009), Op ATALANTA (2010), Op CALASH (2010) and Op ELLAMY (2011).

Armed Forces: Animals

Lord Moonie: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they use animals for burden carrying in Afghanistan; if so, from where they are obtained; what measures are in place to safeguard their well-being in line with United Kingdom standards; and how many such animals have been killed or wounded whilst in use by British Forces.

Lord Astor of Hever: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave on 8 June 2011 (Official Report, col. WA 133). The Ministry of Defence does not use animals for burden carrying in Afghanistan.

Armed Forces: Suicide

Lord Soley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many service personnel who served during the Falklands conflict and during the 1991 Iraq conflict have since committed suicide.

Lord Astor of Hever: This information is not held in the format requested for the Falklands conflict.
	As at 31 December 2010, there were 183 deaths due to intentional self-harm and events of undetermined intent (suicides and open verdict deaths) among veterans of the first Gulf War.

Bahrain

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the status of parliamentary democracy in Bahrain.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The UK welcomes the lifting of the State of National Safety in Bahrain on 1 June, and believes that the announcement by HM The King on 31 May that a National Dialogue is to start on 1 July is a welcome step towards achieving longer term stability. We believe that meaningful talks on the political reform process are the best way of ensuring stability. The way forward is full engagement by all sides in a dialogue that delivers real and meaningful reform.

Bahrain

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the presence of Saudi Arabian security forces in Bahrain following the lifting of the state of emergency.

Lord Howell of Guildford: Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) nations have been invited by the Bahraini government to provide security forces to help maintain law and order. It is clearly vital that outside forces exercise the highest restraint and avoid violence. We have seen no evidence that GCC forces have been involved in public order duties. We now urge the Government of Bahrain to respond to the legitimate concerns of the Bahraini people through a National Dialogue that delivers real and meaningful reform.

Bahrain

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government what information they have on the number of Shia shrines that have been destroyed in Bahrain since the beginning of 2011.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The UK Government do not hold information on the number of Shia shrines that have been destroyed in Bahrain. We are aware that some structures have been removed.
	We have made it clear to the Bahraini Government that the civil rights of all citizens, including the legitimate exercise of freedom of expression and the right of peaceful assembly, must be respected. We also expect it to meet all its human rights obligations, by ensuring its citizens can exercise the universal human rights and freedoms to which they are entitled.

Bahrain

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of Shia MPs who have been removed from parliament in Bahrain.

Lord Howell of Guildford: 18 parliamentarians from the main opposition (Shia) party Al Wifaq withdrew from Parliament in response to the security forces' action against protestors.
	The UK welcomes the lifting of the State of National Safety in Bahrain on 1 June, and believes the announcement of a National Dialogue to start on 1 July is a welcome step towards achieving longer term stability. We believe that peaceful talks are the best way of ensuring stability and that the way forward is through full engagement by all sides under a dialogue that delivers real and meaningful reform.

Bank of England

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Court of the Bank of England has received a report on the role of the Bank of England in events leading up to the banking crisis; and, if so, when this report was considered by the Court.

Lord Sassoon: The Court of the Bank of England is responsible for determining the Bank's objectives and strategy, ensuring the effective discharge of the Bank's functions, ensuring the most efficient use of the Bank's resources and reviewing the Bank's strategy in relation to the Financial Stability Objective.
	The Bank contributed substantially to the analysis of the lessons from the financial crisis, both for the regulators and for central banks, in speeches and in public evidence to parliamentary committees from the start of the crisis. It also contributed to the previous Government's review during 2008.
	The Bank highlighted, in particular, the need for a resolution regime for banks, better regulation of bank liquidity and revised liquidity insurance arrangements that could be drawn without risk of stigmatising the beneficiaries. The 2009 Banking Act gave the Bank responsibility for bank resolution. Temporary arrangements introduced in 2008 were replaced by a permanent liquidity insurance facility in the Bank's 2010 sterling market framework (the Red Book).
	The Government are committed to reform of the financial regulation framework to address the failings of the tripartite system. Under these reforms, the Bank will be responsible for macro-prudential regulation, through a new Financial Policy Committee within the Bank. It will also have oversight of micro-prudential regulation, through the new Prudential Regulation Authority, a subsidiary of the Bank.
	The Treasury published its latest policy and legislative proposals in a White Paper, A New Approach to Financial Regulation: the Blueprint for Reform, on 16 June.

Banking

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will support European Union proposals to specify the maximum amount of core tier one capital that United Kingdom banks must hold.

Lord Sassoon: The Government are expecting European Commission proposals on the implementation of Basel 3 through further amendments to the capital requirements directive (CRD) later this year. The Government will wish to ensure that the revisions to the CRD are fully compatible with the macroprudential remit of the proposed Bank of England Financial Policy Committee

Banking: Iceland

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sassoon on 25 May (WA 431), whether they will end their policy of guaranteed repayment of deposits of over £50,000 for those depositors in the Heritable and Kaupthing Singer and Friedlander Banks who have failed to claim back their assets; how many such depositors with over £50,000 remain in each failed Icelandic bank; and what is the total amount of money so deposited.

Lord Sassoon: The Government do not have any current plans to end their policy of repayment of deposits of over £50,000 for those depositors in the Heritable and Kaupthing Singer and Friedlander Banks who have not yet reclaimed their assets.
	The Financial Services Compensation Scheme manages the process of repayment to all depositors and is liable for repayment of deposits under £50,000. They will continue to pay compensation provided that the relevant bank in question owes a legal liability to its customer. At such a time as this ceases, the Government will review their policy of repayment of deposits over £50,000.
	The table below sets out the number of unclaimed accounts with amounts over £50,000 in each bank and the total amount of money deposited as at 4 January 2011.
	
		
			 Default No of accounts not claimed Amount £ 
			 Heritable and Landsbanki Wholesale 32 167,554,213.58 
			 Heritable 1 466,970.14 
			 KSF 117 249,932,269.29 
			 SFCM (Part of KSF) - - 
			 Total 153 418,200,202.37

Bats

Lord Vinson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the estimated overall cost to the United Kingdom economy of implementing the European protected species directive with regard to bats in England for the years 2009 and 2010; and what was the cost of (a) issuing and supervising licences by English Nature, (b) any mandatory surveys, (c) application and compliance with the recommendations and restrictions in the licence, (d) any delays in construction to comply with the licence, and (e) supervision and authorisation by the local planning authority.

Lord Henley: All bat species in the United Kingdom are protected under the Habitats Directive and the relevant transposing regulations.
	The Government do not hold information on the overall cost to the United Kingdom economy of implementing the Habitats Directive with specific regard to bats. However, in response to your other questions:
	(a) Natural England processed 2,448 and 2,584 requests in relation to bat licences in 2009 and 2010 respectively. The time and cost of assessing and supervising proposals varies significantly and is generally dependent on complexity. Applications can range from requests for permission to carry out surveys to complicated proposals involving significant changes to the habitat of bats. Natural England estimates the staff costs associated directly with bat licensing applications, assessment and processing in 2009 and 2010 to be £280,000 and £300,000 respectively.
	(b) Surveys are necessary to establish whether any protected species are present and, if so, how they are using the habitats and in what numbers. The Government do not collate information on the costs of surveys to inform licence applications.
	(c) The costs of applying for and complying with the requirements of bat licences are highly variable and depend on the complexity of the proposal and the nature of any mitigation or compensation required to meet the directive's requirements. The Government do not collate information on the costs incurred.
	(d) The Government do not record whether construction projects have been delayed by the need to comply with a licence. Natural England does advise those it regulates that planning early for the needs of protected species and designing proposals that meet licensing requirements minimises the risks of delay and associated costs.
	(e) The Government do not hold any information on the costs incurred by local planning authorities in relation to complying with regulations protecting bats.

Benefits

Lord Adebowale: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans are in place regularly to monitor the impact of the reforms of out-of-work benefits on levels of equality in the United Kingdom, with particular reference to the socio-economic status of those affected by the changes.

Lord Freud: Individual impact assessments accompanying the Welfare Reform Bill measures set out, where appropriate, plans for monitoring the impact of reforms using combinations of administrative data, regular and one-off surveys.
	Further information can be found in the impact assessment section of the Welfare Reform Bill page on the DWP internet site via the following link: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/welfare-reform/legislation-and-key-documents/welfare-reform-bill-2011/index.shtml.

Benefits

Lord Morris of Manchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they will be taking in response to Macmillan Cancer Support's concern about the effect on cancer patients of extending the period from three to six months during which claimants of employment and support allowance must demonstrate need before making a claim, in view of cancer suddenly occurring and the unpredictability of the needs of patients.

Lord Freud: Employment and support allowance does not have a qualifying period. However, disability living allowance operates a three month qualifying period and a six month prospective test. These tests are designed to ensure that the benefit only goes to people who have a long-term disability.
	From 2013 we will replace disability living allowance for people of working age with personal independence payment, a new, more transparent and sustainable benefit with an objective assessment of individual need. Personal independence payment will have a qualifying period of six months and a prospective test of six months. This means that the overall 12 month test will harmonise with the accepted definition of long-term disability used for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010.
	We are grateful for the contribution Macmillan Cancer Support has made to the debate on this issue and have listened to its concerns with interest. However, we maintain that the existing support mechanisms, such as social security benefits, tax credits and means-tested support for travel and prescriptions, provide appropriate support to those who need help in the short term. Personal independence payment will therefore be available when costs are more likely to become a burden to people regardless of income.

Benefits

Baroness Lister of Burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 24 May (WA 399-400), whether they will estimate the number of households who would be subject to the proposed benefit cap, if (a) child benefit, and (b) any other relevant benefits or tax credits, were treated as part of the median income at which the benefit will be capped.

Lord Freud: If the benefit cap is applied as described in the spending review 2010, it is estimated that around 50,000 households will be affected.
	We are looking at ways of easing the transition for families and providing assistance in hard cases.
	It is estimated that including (a) child benefit in the calculation of the median income would result in a negligible reduction in the number of households affected.
	It is estimated that including (b) all relevant benefits or tax credits in the calculation of the median income would reduce the number of households affected by approximately 30 per cent.
	Relevant benefits refer to payments that are taken into account in the calculation of the sum of benefits when applying the benefit cap. Note that disability living allowance and working tax credits are not included, since the claimants of these benefits are excluded from the benefit cap.
	Analysis of those affected by the benefit cap has been modelled using survey data-as such there is a degree of uncertainty around the results.

Benefits

Lord German: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 16 February (WA 160), what assurances they can provide that the guidance on face-to-face contact with benefits claimants by (a) Jobcentre Plus, (b) any organisations with alternative office status, and (c) any other body with the right or duty to assist or take part in a benefits claim, ensures that claimants are treated in a fair and respectful manner.

Lord Freud: Jobcentre Plus adheres to the department's customer charter, which details the service standards claimants can expect in their dealings with DWP, a key principle of which is Right Treatment. Jobcentre Plus has internally published guidance for staff involved in direct contact with claimants and any organisation or person acting on their behalf that emphasises fair, professional and respectful behaviour. This is re-enforced by the department's HR policy for serving the public and regularly monitored through Jobcentre Plus' quality assurance frameworks for staff delivering services to claimants.
	Jobcentre Plus does not provide guidance about how other organisations and representatives should treat claimants. However, partner organisations working with Jobcentre Plus to deliver services to claimants must have standards equal to the department's own expectations.

Benefits

Baroness McDonagh: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people of working age currently receive free prescriptions through passported benefits such as jobseeker's allowance and income support; and how many people the Government expect to receive free prescriptions under the universal credit.

Earl Howe: Information on the numbers of patients receiving free prescriptions is not held centrally. The Government intend that universal credit will passport broadly the same number of people as current benefits.

Burma

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the authorities in Burma to stop the practice of placing prisoners in cages designed for dogs as a punishment.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We are aware of a number of reports including from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners in Burma, and Amnesty International, that seven Burmese political prisoners were kept in dog cells as punishment for their hunger strike. The Government unequivocally condemn this appalling and inhumane practice. We also continue to have serious concerns about the treatment of all political prisoners, many of whom suffer from poor health as a result of being incarcerated in appalling conditions in locations remote from their families and without access to proper medical care.
	Our ambassador in Rangoon raised the issue of political prisoners with senior Burmese Ministers in May and June and he has pressed the Government to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to carry out independent and unsupervised visits.
	We continue to call for the immediate and unconditional release of all of Burma's over 2,000 political prisoners. We have made clear that the Burmese Government's recent prisoner release fell far below the expectations of the international community.

Buses: Cambridge Guided Busway

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the current estimated out-turn cost of the Cambridge Guided Busway project; and what is the length of the busway construction.

Earl Attlee: This project is a local authority scheme, sponsored by Cambridgeshire County Council. The information is available on Cambridgeshire County Council's website at: http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk /transport/around/thebusway/.

Care Homes

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether reports held by county council social service departments on investigations into complaints over treatment of persons in care home facilities were made available to the Care Quality Commission.

Earl Howe: Reports held by county council social service departments on investigations into complaints over treatment of persons in care home facilities are not routinely shared with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). However, the CQC is made aware of the outcomes where there are concerns about the safety of the people who live at the service or where there has been a multi-agency investigation. The CQC can also, as part of its regulatory activity, request the information from the local authority.
	The Local Government Ombudsman shares information about complaints made by both publicly and privately funded people in social care with the CQC. The two bodies have a memorandum of understanding, setting out how they will work together.

Care Homes: Southern Cross

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 23 May (WA 372), whether they will explain the standard used to define delivering "protection to everyone affected" by the situation at Southern Cross.

Earl Howe: The Government's principal concern is for the safety and well-being of the residents of care homes that might be affected. We have made and continue to make all parties involved-Southern Cross, landlords and the banks-aware of their responsibilities to residents.
	Whatever the outcome of the restructuring by Southern Cross, we will ensure that no resident-publicly or self funded-is left homeless or without care. The National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 gives local authorities the powers to step in and provide care services to anyone in urgent need.
	The Care Quality Commission (CQC) will pay particular attention to any care homes where there is a concern that quality may be at risk or inadequate.
	The Government are talking to the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, the Local Government Association and the CQC to ensure that contingency plans are in place, which will allow for the continuation of care under any eventuality.
	I refer the noble Lord to the Statement I made to the House on Tuesday 7 June (Official Report, cols. WS 1-2).

Care Homes: Southern Cross

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty's Government, of the 405 random inspections carried out by the Commission for Social Care Inspection in the year 2007-08, how many included care and hospital facilities operated by (a) Southern Cross, and (b) Castlebeck.

Earl Howe: The following information has been provided by the Care Quality Commission:
	Inspections of Castlebeck Care services carried out during 2007-081
	
		
			 Type of inspection Type of service Number of Inspections 
			 Announced Independent hospital2 6 
			 Unannounced Independent hospital2 1 
			 Key Unannounced Nursing home 1 
			 Key Unannounced Residential home 3 
			 Total  11 
		
	
	Inspections of Southern Cross services carried out during 2007-08
	
		
			 Type of inspection Type of service Number of Inspections 
			 Key unannounced Home care agency 3 
			 Key unannounced Non-medical care home 1 
			 Key unannounced Nursing home 335 
			 Key unannounced Residential home 153 
			 Random announced Nursing home 1 
			 Random unannounced Nursing home 64 
			 Random unannounced Residential home 34 
			 Specialist inspection Nursing home 2 
			 Thematic announced Nursing home 2 
			 Thematic unannounced Nursing home 7 
			 Thematic unannounced Residential home 1 
			 Total  603 
		
	
	Notes:
	1The above tables do not include any children's social care services operated by Southern Cross or Castlebeck Care as the responsibility for regulating these was the responsibility of Ofsted.
	2Inspections of these services were undertaken by the Healthcare Commission.
	The majority of inspections carried out by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) were unannounced. Announced Inspections were primarily used for nursing or domiciliary care agencies where care was not provided at the registered site.
	Types of inspections
	Key inspection: This was a planned inspection based on the provider's quality rating. CSCI targeted its inspection resources on poorer services as part of its target inspection approach.
	Random inspection: Random inspections allowed inspectors to review services at any time. These were often triggered by complaints or notifications (eg notification of death of service users). Findings from a random inspection did not change the quality rating.
	Thematic inspection: CSCI undertook thematic inspections around core themes. These inspections were used in part to gather information to inform national reports on particular topics. Findings from a thematic inspection did not change the quality rating.
	Specialist inspection: These were inspections undertaken with input from specialist staff, for example a pharmacy inspection.

Care Quality Commission

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, following UNISON's comments in 2008 on the Commission for Social Care Inspection's (CSCI) 2007 survey on quality of service at CSCI, they will ask the Care Quality Commission to carry out a further survey on the quality of service it provides.

Earl Howe: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is an independent body, accountable to the Secretary of State for discharging its functions, duties and powers efficiently and effectively. The department monitors the CQC's performance at a general and strategic level.
	The CQC has advised that it does not intend to carry out a survey of the quality of its services at this time. However, it is currently undergoing an implementation review, which is about reviewing how front-line operations can work better.
	Through its management and governance processes, the CQC monitors the delivery of its functions, identifies risks and makes improvements to its services as appropriate.

Care Quality Commission

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider the statutory appointment of a human rights director at the Care Quality Commission.

Earl Howe: The Health and Social Care Act 2008 sets out clear functions and objectives for the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Section 4 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 requires the CQC to have regard to the need to protect and promote the rights of people who use health and social care services and, as a public authority, the CQC is under a duty to act compatibly with the Human Rights Act.
	The CQC is an independent body, accountable to the Secretary of State and Parliament. The CQC's board is responsible for its overall performance and success. It exercises this responsibility by providing strategic leadership, direction and guidance to the CQC. We do not believe it would be appropriate for the Government to set specific remits in relation to particular functions or responsibilities for individual board members. The CQC is best placed to determine the most appropriate organisational structure to deliver its functions efficiently and effectively.

Care Quality Commission

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will introduce measures to enable the Care Quality Commission to report on the financial liabilities of private institutions providing care and hospital resources.

Earl Howe: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is an independent body. Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, the CQC must publish a report following an inspection, otherwise it does not routinely report on its findings in relation to individual providers of services.
	All providers of regulated activities must meet requirements set out in regulations under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
	Regulation 13 of the CQC (Registration) Regulations 2010 requires a service provider to,
	"take all reasonable steps to carry on the regulated activity in such a manner as to ensure the financial viability of the carrying on of that activity for the purposes of: (a) achieving the aims and objectives set out in the statement of purpose; and (b) meeting the registration requirements prescribed pursuant to section 20",
	of the Health and Social Care Act 2008. This regulation does not apply where the service provider is a local authority or a National Health Service body.
	Failure to comply with this requirement is an offence.

Care Services: Day Centres

Baroness Turner of Camden: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps are being taken to ensure that when local authorities close day centres alternative arrangements are in place to provide services for elderly and vulnerable people and their carers.

Earl Howe: I refer the noble Baroness to the Written Answer I gave her on 12 May 2011. This is now available in Hansard, (Official Report, 12 May 2011, col. WA232).

Care Services: Inspection

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty's Government what investigations have been carried out by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman into the operation of (a) the Commission for Social Care Inspection, and (b) the Care Quality Commission, in each year since 2005.

Earl Howe: The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) is independent of both the department and the Government and it is therefore not usually appropriate for officials and Ministers to answer on behalf of the PHSO. However, in these circumstances PHSO has given approval because this information is available from PHSO's annual reports and is in the public domain.
	During the past five years, PHSO published the following information:
	In its annual report for 2005-06 PHSO stated that it had reported on 24 complaints about the Commission for Social Care Inspection and had upheld 58 per cent in full or in part.
	In its annual report for 2006-07 PHSO stated that it had reported on 14 complaints about the Commission for Social Care Inspection and had upheld 50 per cent in full or in part.
	In its annual report for 2007-08 PHSO stated that it had reported on two complaints about the Commission for Social Care Inspection and had upheld 100 per cent in full or in part.
	From April 2009, the Commission for Social Care Inspection became Care Quality Commission.
	In its annual report for 2008-09, no complaints were reported on for either organisation.
	In its annual report for 2009-10, no complaints were reported on for either organisation.

Care Services: Winterbourne View

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether short operational framework for inspection procedures have been implemented in Winterbourne Hospital.

Earl Howe: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has provided the following information.
	Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI) is an inspection tool used by CQC. It was used in the most recent inspection of Winterbourne View in May 2011. The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) designed the original SOFI in partnership with Bradford University for use in CSCI. SOFI has been further developed for use under the new outcomes-focused regulatory framework (known as SOFI 2) and is currently being used by CQC, with inspectors continuing to be trained to use it.
	The Healthcare Commission did not use SOFI as an inspection tool. SOFI was not used by CQC in the inspection of Winterbourne View on 15 December 2009, as at that time it was inspecting under the Healthcare Commission model.

Cyclists: Accidents

Lord Janner of Braunstone: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will reduce the level of road accidents involving bicycles.

Earl Attlee: On 11 May the Government published their new Strategic Framework for Road Safety. This document sets out the Government's plans to assure the safety of all road users. The framework is available on the Department for Transport website: http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/strategic-framework-for-road-safety/.

Deaf People: Telecommunications

Baroness Goudie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they have taken since May 2010 to improve access to work for British Sign Language users.

Lord Freud: The Government have introduced welfare to work reforms which aim to fight poverty, support the most vulnerable and help people, including disabled people, whatever their disability, to break any cycle of benefit dependency and to find employment.
	Jobcentre Plus Advisers have been given more responsibility to assess individuals' needs within local labour markets and to offer them the support they think is most appropriate, including a number of Get Britain Working measures, designed to provide help for those seeking work or to move into self employment.
	Jobcentre Plus Disability Employment Advisers also support disabled customers by identifying suitable job opportunities and acting as an advocate on a customer's behalf with employers. They will also aim to identify work solutions that will overcome or minimise difficulties relating to a customer's disability and can signpost customers and their employers to the Access to Work Service. Jobcentre Plus also has specialist programmes that help disabled people move into paid work, such as residential training, or for those with the most complex support needs, Work Choice. Disability Employment Advisers also use the professional expertise of work psychologists specialising in working with disabled people, or refer people for occupational health assessment if required. Disability Employment Advisers will also be able to refer customers to Work Programme where appropriate.
	The DWP Access to Work programme is a pan-disability programme. There have been no changes to the programme specifically for British Sign Language users.

Disabled People

Lord Morris of Manchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 6 June (WA 31), what has been the response to date on the draft report of the Office for Disability Issues (ODI); and when they expect to take further action on the report's findings.

Lord Freud: We have received a number of responses and will consider all the views expressed very carefully. Government departments and the devolved Administrations will be asked to review their contributions to the report. The Office for Disability Issues (ODI) is developing a cross-government disability strategy, which will also be informed by the comments expressed, and which will help implement the convention.

Elections: Voting System

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Shutt of Greetland on 7 June (WA 100), why they will not ascertain the details of the number of Commonwealth citizens registered in each Northern Ireland constituency from the electoral authorities there; when they adopted this policy; and whether the same policy applies to answers on England and Wales electoral registration matters.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: Information on the electoral register for constituencies in Northern Ireland is compiled and maintained by the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland where he acts as the registration officer. It is therefore more appropriate for the noble Lord to write directly to the Chief Electoral Officer.
	Electoral registers for England and Wales are compiled and maintained for each local authority area by the relevant Electoral Registration Officer.

Electronic Communications

Baroness Goudie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefits of introducing universal video relay services in the United Kingdom.

Baroness Rawlings: The Government have not made any formal assessment of the benefits of introducing universal video relay systems (VRS) in the UK. However, we received a substantial number of contributions (including cost-benefit analysis and impact assessments) in response to our recent consultation on implementing the revised EU Electronic Communications Framework, many of those lobbying for the mandating of universal VRS. In particular, the Government and Ofcom have considered figures put to them in their consultation response by the American provider, SorensonsVRS. Whilst these figures have been drawn together with a view to making a case for VRS, we do not doubt that the economic and social situation of many BSL users could be improved if a VRS system were mandated in the UK. These, and many other contributions, have been taken into consideration in our approach to implementation in the UK.
	Separately, and in line with its responsibilities to further the interests of citizens and consumers, Ofcom, the independent telecoms regulator, is currently undertaking a review of relay service provision in the UK. The objectives of this review are to assess whether current arrangements are adequate in delivering equivalence to voice telephony for hearing (including BSL users) and speech impaired end-users. This review will look at, amongst other things, the existing text relay service and additional relay services including video relay and captioned telephony. It will also include a cost-benefit analysis of the different potential options.
	The Government believe this is an appropriate and sensible way forward. However, under domestic legislation any decision on future arrangements can only be made after a process of review, consultation, cost-benefit analysis and a proportionality test. It would be inappropriate to attempt to anticipate or influence any decision-making process which forms part of Ofcom's current review.
	In our implementation of the revised framework the Government have affected changes to the Communications Act 2003 which will enable Ofcom, following the outcome of its current review, to place obligations, as appropriate, on suppliers of public electronic communications networks and services that will help ensure equivalence in access and choice for disabled end-users of electronic communications and services.

Electronic Communications

Baroness Goudie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reduction in the number of deaf people claiming video relay services (VRS) through the Access to Work scheme if universal VRS were available.

Lord Freud: No assessment has been made by Government about the reduction in the number of deaf people claiming video relay services (VRS) through the Access to Work scheme if universal VRS were available.
	However, following consultation on proposals, the Government recently completed the implementation of the revised EU Electronic Communications Framework, which includes measures targeted at providing access and choice for deaf and disabled people (one of the few member states to do so on time). New provisions in the framework require member states to empower relevant national authorities-Office of Communications (Ofcom) in the UK-to specify, where appropriate, obligations on publicly available electronic communication service providers to deliver the access and choice.
	In addition, Ofcom is currently undertaking a review of relay service provision for hearing and speech-impaired users of electronic communications. This review will look at, amongst other things, whether the existing text relay service and additional relay services (including video relay and captioned telephony) are adequate. It will also include a cost-benefit analysis of the potential different options. The Government believe this is an appropriate and sensible way forward.
	Ofcom intends to publish a consultation document as part of this review process. A research report that will inform the review was published on 4 February 2011 and can be read at http://stakeholders.ofcom.org. uk/market-data-research/telecoms-research/ofcom-relay-services/.

Energy: Oil Refineries

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they have taken following the accident at the Pembroke Chevron plant.

Lord Freud: The incident is under investigation by Dyfed-Powys Police and HSE. The police currently have primacy in accordance with the Work-Related Deaths Protocol. HSE are providing technical assistance to the police and are conducting their own investigation under the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (as amended).

EU: Finance

Lord Ashcroft: To ask Her Majesty's Government what would be the impact on the United Kingdom if a country left the eurozone whilst there was currency issued by that country in circulation.

Lord Sassoon: There is no provision in the European treaties for the withdrawal of a participating member state from the single currency and no member state has expressed its intention to do so.

EU: Finance Ministry

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the speech made by Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the European Central Bank, in Aachen on 2 June, advocating the establishment of a European Union Finance Ministry, with the power to intervene in and veto national economic and financial policies.

Lord Sassoon: The Government do not intend to give a running commentary on the many public speeches and ideas on possible changes to European policy making.
	Any formal proposals for change to existing economic surveillance mechanisms must be compatible with the treaties. The Government have agreed that there should be no further transfer of competence or powers from the UK to the European Union (EU) over the course of this Parliament. Changes to the EU treaties require the unanimous agreement of every member state, and we are legislating in the European Union Bill to ensure that the British people will have the final say on any future proposed transfer of competences or powers to the EU.

EU: Financial Support

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government what financial commitments or loans have been made by the United Kingdom in support of (a) the European Union's Financial Stabilisation Mechanism, (b) bilateral loans to the Republic of Ireland, and (c) any other financial undertaking or underwriting in support of the euro, whether directly or through the International Monetary Fund; and what is the present state of those commitments, loans, undertakings or underwriting.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what financial commitments or loans have been made by the United Kingdom in support of the economies of (a) Greece, (b) Portugal, (c) Ireland, (d) Spain and (e) Italy, whether directly or through the International Monetary Fund; and what is the present state of those commitments, loans, undertakings and underwriting.

Lord Sassoon: The international financial assistance package for Greece agreed in May 2010 included: a €30 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), of which €14.6 billion has been disbursed; and, €80 billion of bilateral loans from euro area member states, of which €38.4 billion has been disbursed. There was no contribution either from the EU Budget or from the European Financial Stabilisation Mechanism (EFSM), which is backed by the EU Budget.
	The international financial assistance package for Ireland agreed in December 2010 included: a €22.5 billion loan from the IMF, of which €7.2 billion has been disbursed; a €22.5 billion loan from the EFSM, of which €11.4 billion has been disbursed; a €17.5 billion loan from the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), of which €3.6 billion has been disbursed; and €5 billion of bilateral loans from the UK, Sweden and Denmark.
	The international financial assistance package for Portugal agreed in May 2011 included a €26 billion loan from the EFSM, of which €6.5 billion has been disbursed; a €26 billion loan from the IMF, of which €6.1 billion has been disbursed; and a €26 billion loan from the EFSF.
	Spain and Italy have not received, nor requested, international financial assistance.
	The UK's exposures break down as follows:
	A bilateral loan of £3.227 billion is available to Ireland. The loan cannot be drawn until after the approval of the third quarterly review of Ireland's Memorandum of Understanding with the IMF and the European Commission.
	The EFSM is financed by the European Commission raising funds on capital markets, guaranteed by the EU Budget. There is no direct impact on the EU Budget from any such borrowing by the Commission. Only in the event that a beneficiary member state defaults on loan repayments would the EU Budget be adversely affected. In those circumstances, member states would be liable for a share based on their contribution to the EU Budget at that time. Contributions to the EU Budget vary over time, mainly driven by the member states' share in the EU's gross national income. For this reason, it is not possible to state exactly the UK liability. As an illustrative example, based on contributions to the 2010 EU Budget, the UK's share would be approximately 14 per cent.
	It is not possible to provide an estimate of the UK's contribution to specific IMF programmes. The UK contributes funds to the IMF as a whole rather than to any country-specific IMF programme. Our ultimate exposure to any IMF lending programme would be in line with our quota shareholding, ie around 4.5 per cent.

Flags

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any ministers or United Kingdom representatives attended the ceremony of the raising and parading of the European Union flag on 9 May in Brussels.

Lord Howell of Guildford: No ministers or United Kingdom representatives attended the ceremony.

Food Standards Agency

Baroness Byford: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider opening up the Food Standards Agency's inspection regime to tender to private businesses.

Earl Howe: We are advised by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) that this question has been raised in the report of the independent Farming Regulation Task Force which has made a number of recommendations to reduce regulatory burdens on farmers and food processors.
	The report and its recommendations are currently being considered and an interim government response, including the views of the FSA, is to be made in autumn 2011.

GMB Conference

Lord Touhig: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Prime Minister's Office (a) was made aware of, and (b) approved in advance, the speech made by the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to the GMB Conference on 6 June.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: I refer the noble Lord to section 8.2 of the new Ministerial Code.
	
		
			  8 Ministers and the Presentation of Policy 
			 General principle 8.1 Official facilities paid for out of public funds can be used for Government publicity and advertising but may not be used for the dissemination of material which is essentially party political. The conventions governing the work of the Government Communication Network are set out in the Government Communication Network's Propriety Guidance-Guidance on Government Communications. 
			 Media interviews, speeches etc 8.2 In order to ensure the effective coordination of Cabinet business, the policy content and timing of all major announcements, speeches, press releases and new policy initiatives should, where possible, be cleared in draft with the No 10 Press and Private Offices 24 hours in advance. All major interviews and media appearances, both print and broadcast, should also be agreed with the No 10 Press Office. 
			  8.3 In all cases other than those described in paragraph 6.6, the principle of collective responsibility applies (see also paragraph 2.1). Ministers should ensure that their statements are consistent with collective Government policy. Ministers should take special care in referring to subjects which are the responsibility of other Ministers. 
			  8.4 Ministers must only use official machinery for distributing texts of speeches relating to Government business. Speeches made in a party political context must be distributed through the Party machinery. 
			  8.5 Ministers invited to broadcast on radio, television and/or webcasts in a political or private capacity should consider if such a broadcast would have a bearing on another department's responsibilities, in which case they should clear the matter with the ministerial colleague concerned before agreeing to the invitation. 
			 Press articles 8.6 Ministers may contribute to a book, journal or newspaper, including a local newspaper in their constituency, provided that publication will not be at variance with their obligations to Parliament and their duty to observe the principle of collective Ministerial responsibility. No payment should be accepted for such articles.

Government Departments: Research and Data

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what research and data collection HM Treasury has (a) initiated, (b) terminated, and (c) amended, since 12 May 2010.

Lord Sassoon: This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Government Departments: Research and Data

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what research and data collection the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has (a) initiated, (b) terminated, and (c) amended, since 12 May 2010.

Lord Howell of Guildford: This information is not centrally available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Government Departments: Research and Data

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what research and data collection the Department of Energy and Climate Change has (a) initiated, (b) terminated, and (c) amended since 12 May 2010.

Lord Marland: DECC commissions significant volumes of research and data collection. DECC will be publishing a science and innovation strategy in July that will set out our approach to evidence collection and research, and this document will provide information on science research projects.
	DECC conducts a number of statistical surveys and an annual report that lists these is published by the Government Statistical Service at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=12732.
	Since the last publication of this report, DECC has been reviewing the data collection for local authorities' carbon emissions and has also stopped the data collection for the local authority fuel poverty indicator (which has been replaced by central modelling for all LAs by DECC). DECC statistics are available on the DECC website at:
	http://decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/statistics.aspx.

Government Departments: Research and Data

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what research and data collection the Minister without Portfolio in the Cabinet Office has (a) initiated, (b) terminated, and (c) amended, since 12 May 2010.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The Minister without Portfolio has not initiated, terminated or amended any research or data collection since 12 May 2010.

Government Departments: Scientific Advisers

Lord Willis of Knaresborough: To ask Her Majesty's Government who is the Departmental Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department of Energy and Climate Change; and (a) when they were appointed and for how long, (b) what is their academic or experience background, (c) what is their civil service rank, (d) whether their post is full-time or part-time, and what other work commitments they have, and (e) on how many occasions during the past year they have had meetings with the Secretary of State for Climate Change or the Minister to whom they have direct responsibility.

Lord Marland: DECC's Chief Scientific Advisor is Professor David MacKay FRS. He was appointed on secondment from the University of Cambridge on 1 October 2009 for one year initially, but this was extended to three years-until September 2012. David MacKay is Professor of Natural Philosophy at the Department of Physics, Cambridge University and a Fellow of the Royal Society. He has a BA degree in Natural Science from the University of Cambridge and a PhD in Computation and Neural Systems awarded by the California Institute of Technology. Since 2005, he has devoted much of his time to public teaching about energy and in 2008 published a book on sustainable energy consumption and demand. He is SCS Pay Band 3. His post is part-time: 0.8 of a full-time equivalent. He is also employed by the University of Cambridge as Professor of Natural Philosophy at the university's Department of Physics. He meets regularly with all DECC ministers.

Government: Ministerial Responsibilities

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last published a list of ministerial responsibilities; and whether they will publish an up-to-date list.

Lord Strathclyde: The List of Ministerial Responsibilities was last published in July 2010 and is updated as and when major changes are made. An up to date list of Ministers and their responsibilities are available on the Cabinet Office website at www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/content/list-government-departments-and-ministers.

Government: Special Advisers

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last published a list of special advisers; and whether they will publish an up-to-date list.

Lord Strathclyde: The Government are committed to publishing, on a quarterly basis, details of special advisers and their cost. The most recent information was published on 10 March 2011 and is available in the Library of the House and can also be accessed on the Cabinet Office website at www.cabinetoffices.gov.uk/resource-library/special-adviser-data-releases.

Gulf War Illnesses

Lord Morris of Manchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will be responding to the Cardiff University rehabilitation study of the still medically undiagnosed illnesses of veterans of the first Gulf War, and the related correspondence from Professor Malcolm Hooper.

Lord Astor of Hever: The Cardiff University rehabilitation study has successfully identified a range of potential interventions to help rehabilitate ill veterans. The Ministry of Defence is currently facilitating discussions between Cardiff University and the voluntary and charitable sector with a view to developing this work further.
	The UK and the US have undertaken a substantial amount of research into Gulf veterans' illness. The research has indicated that there is no illness which is specific to Gulf veterans. We will continue to monitor Gulf research that is published round the world.
	We have not received any recent, related correspondence on this matter from Professor Malcolm Hooper.

Health and Social Care Bill

Lord Touhig: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are their plans for the further parliamentary consideration of the Health and Social Care Bill.

Lord Strathclyde: The Secretary of State for Health made a statement on 14 June 2011 in which he announced a number of Government amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill (repeated in the House of Lords on 14 June 2011 at Official Report, col. WS68). In that Statement he also announced that the relevant parts of the Bill would be recommitted to a Public Bill Committee of the House of Commons to make and scrutinise that provision.

Health and Social Care Bill

Lord Reid of Cardowan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the estimated cost of the listening exercise on the Health and Social Care Bill that took place during April and May 2011.

Earl Howe: As at 16 June 2011 the costs invoiced for the NHS Listening Exercise were £40,902.97. This includes costs relating to the expenses incurred by the 45 NHS Future Forum members and to the rest of the NHS Listening Exercise, for example national, regional and local listening events and NHS Future Forum meetings.
	The sums have been met from the department's allocated budget.

Health: Drugs

The Earl of Sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what public warnings they have issued, other than in pharmaceutical products, regarding the risks of prescribed drug addiction and withdrawal.

Earl Howe: A range of guidance materials has been provided to general practitioners and pharmacists for use with their patients regarding the risks of dependency associated with prescription and over-the-counter medicines. This has included:
	the Committee on the Review of Medicines' advice in the British Medical Journal in 1980 regarding the risks associated with the use of benzodiazepines which also outlined the information which should be included in the product information for these medicines;the British National Formulary (BNF) first published advice about the need for short-term use of benzodiazepines in 1981. As new information has been received the BNF has been updated to reflect the current knowledge. The BNF continues to provide detailed advice about withdrawal reactions and how to gradually withdraw benzodiazepines to minimise the risk of these reactions;the Committee on Safety of Medicines issued advice to all healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom about the need to limit treatment to two to four weeks in their bulletin "Current Problems" in January 1988;Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Benzodiazepine Dependence, published by the Mental Health Foundation (1994);information within the WHO Guide to Mental Health in Primary Care prepared in collaboration with the medical and nursing royal colleges and user groups;National Health Service Clinical Knowledge summaries provide advice to clinicians on the tapered withdrawal of patients addicted to Benzodiazepines and Z-Drugs; andthe Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency advice on over-the-counter medicines containing codeine and dihydrocodeine to minimise the risk of overuse and addiction.
	We are also aware that in January 2010, the British Pain Society provided guidance for patients, Opioids for Persistent Pain: Information for Patients, which included information on the risks of dependency.

Health: Prescriptions

Baroness McDonagh: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people have applied for the NHS low income scheme in each of the past three years; and how many people in each of the last three years were exempted from paying prescription charges through the scheme.

Earl Howe: Information on the number of applications made to the National Health Service Low Income Scheme and the number of HC2 certificates (which exempt the person from health costs, including prescription charges) subsequently issued, is shown in the table. Information on the number of HC3 certificates issued is also included as these provide help towards the cost of dental treatment, sight tests, wigs and fabric supports, travel costs for NHS treatment and vouchers for glasses and contact lenses (but not prescription charges).
	Each certificate provides entitlement to the individual, their partner and any dependent children.
	
		
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 
			 Applications received (HC1 Form) 445,608 431,129 433,136 
			 HC2s issued (qualify for full help)1 252,037 243,350 249,122 
			 HC3s issued (qualify for partial help) 148,018 142,135 136,635 
			 Not entitled to a certificate (for example capital over the limit or exempt on other grounds) 1,931 2,099 1,811 
		
	
	Source: NHS Business Services Authority
	1 excludes HC2 certificates issued to asylum seekers by the UK Border Agency.

Health: Prescriptions

Baroness McDonagh: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they propose to make prescriptions more affordable for people on low incomes.

Earl Howe: The current system of prescription charge exemptions in England is extensive and already includes exemptions for people on certain benefits. People can also apply through the NHS Low Income Scheme. This system of exemptions means that around 60 per cent of the population are exempted from paying prescription charges and around 90 per cent of prescription items are dispensed without charge.
	We are continuing to explore options for reforming the current prescription charging arrangements, taking into account the current financial context. We are also examining the implications of the introduction of Universal Credit in relation to those benefits that currently entitle the recipient of that benefit to free prescriptions.

Health: Vaccines

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether thimerosal was removed from all childhood vaccines in 2004.

Earl Howe: Since September 2004, the routine childhood immunisation programme has not included a thiomersal-containing vaccine. Some vaccines not used in the routine childhood immunisation programme but which are licensed for use in children still contain thiomersal, e.g. some hepatitis B, influenza and pertussis (whole cell) vaccines. There is no evidence to suggest that exposure to the small levels of thiomersal contained in some vaccines carry any serious risks.
	The rationale for changing the vaccines is explained in a letter from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) in 2004 (PL/CMO/2004/2) and a copy of this has been placed in the Library.

Health: Vaccines

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether swine flu vaccines now being given to the elderly, children and pregnant women contain thimerosal.

Earl Howe: The 2011-12 seasonal flu immunisation programme will start in September.
	None of the trivalent seasonal influenza vaccines that will be available for use in the 2011-12 influenza season that provide protection against the influenza A H1N1v (swine flu) strain contain thiomersal as an added preservative. However, one vaccine (Fluvirin) contains traces of thiomersal that are left over from the manufacturing process. There is no evidence to suggest that exposure to the small levels of thiomersal contained in these influenza vaccines carry any serious risks to children or adults, including pregnant women.

Health: Vaccines

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the withdrawal of the swine flu vaccine containing thimerosal in the Republic of Ireland, Japan and Australia.

Earl Howe: The Health Service Executive in Ireland began to collect unused stocks of Pandemrix H1N1 vaccine in March 2011. This followed reports, largely in Sweden and Finland, of narcolepsy following vaccination and was initiated because Pandemrix was no longer required due to availability of seasonal influenza vaccines. The signal of narcolepsy is still under investigation as part of a Europe-wide regulatory review. Pandemrix remains licensed for use in Europe and the benefit-risk balance of Pandemrix remains favourable. This issue has no specific relation to the presence of thiomersal in Pandemrix as a preservative. There is no evidence to suggest that exposure to the small levels of thiomersal contained in Pandemrix carries any serious health risks.
	According to information on the website of the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Panvax Junior 'swine flu' vaccine was withdrawn in August 2010 due to the shelf life being reduced from 12 months to six months. Panvax Junior did not contain thiomersal.
	We are unaware of any action taken in Japan to withdraw swine flu vaccines from the market.

Healthcare: Costs

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 9 June (WA 150), what is their estimate of the number of Polish nationals resident in the United Kingdom who are accessing medical care here; what is the annual cost of such care; and why the Government of Poland has not made any payments to the United Kingdom in the financial years 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 for the costs of health care.

Earl Howe: Polish nationals who are ordinarily resident here are entitled to free National Health Service hospital treatment. Consequently, the Government does not hold data on the number of Polish nationals resident in the United Kingdom who access medical care here, nor the annual cost of such care.
	Under EU Regulation 883/2004, claims and payments for healthcare provided to temporary visitors, posted workers and pensioners, plus their dependents and planned treatment, are made several years in arrears. Although claims have been submitted by the UK to Poland, no payments had yet been received by the end of the financial year 2009-10.

Human Rights

Lord Judd: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they will take during their Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to pursue the implementation by the Government of Russia of past rulings by the European Court of Human Rights on abuses of human rights in Chechnya and the North Caucasus.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We have serious concerns about Russia's human rights performance. We have provided financial support to a number of Russian and international non-governmental organisations involved in litigating cases of human rights abuses domestically and through the European Court of Human Rights. In 2010 the Court handed down judgments in favour of 17 applicants supported by one of these organisations-the Russia Justice Initiative-and awarded more than €1,720,000 in damages. Russia is aware of our concerns, and we will continue to engage with Russia on these issues at ministerial level, through our Embassy in Moscow, and through our representation to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.

Immigration: Deportation

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of their reply to the letter from Mr James A Goldston, executive director of the Open Society Initiative, about the detention, alleged mistreatment and deportation from Kenya of Clara Gutteridge.

Lord Howell of Guildford: Without the permission or knowledge of, or a request from, the individual who was subject to the detention, alleged mistreatment and deportation, it would not be appropriate to place a copy of our reply to this letter in the Library of the House.

Immigration: Deportation

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are offering to United Kingdom national Clara Gutteridge, accused by a Minister of the Government of Kenya of involvement in subversive activities in association with terrorist organisations, including Al Shabaab.

Lord Howell of Guildford: Our High Commission has previously provided consular assistance to Clara Gutteridge and will do so should she require it in future. However, any accusations against Ms Gutteridge are entirely a matter for the Kenyan authorities. We do not take a view on the veracity of the accusations and cannot request their withdrawal or justification.

Ivory Coast

Lord Chidgey: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in the light of continuing instability in the Ivory Coast and the continuing occupation of police stations in many cities by elements of the Ivory Coast Republican Forces (FRCI), they are discussing possible disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration measures with international partners and the Government of the Ivory Coast.

Lord Howell of Guildford: Security Sector Reform is one of the many challenges facing the Government of Cote d'Ivoire as they seek to recover from the recent conflict. We will work with fellow United Nations Security Council members to agree an appropriate level of United Nations support for disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration. We will also continue discussions with partners about EU support to this process. The Minister for Africa, my honourable friend the Member for North West Norfolk (Mr Bellingham) discussed these issues with the then Ivorian Foreign Minister during his recent attendance at the inauguration of President Ouattara on 20-21 June.

Lebanon

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Hezbollah in the past 12 months.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We have had no discussions with Hezbollah over the past 12 months.

National Insurance

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 23 May (WA 387), whether they will extrapolate and publish in the Official Report the total figures of national insurance numbers issued to nationals of each European Union country over the period since 2002, and the overall total for European Union and non-European Union nationals.

Lord Freud: The official statistics provided relate to national insurance number (NINo) registrations, which are the result of a successful NINo application. This information is only available from 2002. This information was placed in the Library for both Houses on 18 May 2011 and is contained in the following tables:
	
		
			 NINo Registrations to Adult Overseas Nationals entering the UK (Thousands) world area of origin, 2002-September 2010 
			  Total (Thousands) World Area of Origin European Union (Thousands) Non-EU (Thousands) 
			 Total 4908.48 2487.03 2421.44 
			 Time Series-Financial Year Of Registration Date
			 Jan-02 to Mar-02 69.71 21.78 47.92 
			 2002/3 346.23 97.76 248.46 
			 2003/4 373.50 114.26 259.23 
			 2004/5 435.35 197.55 237.80 
			 2005/6 663.06 374.52 288.53 
			 2006/7 705.84 420.25 285.59 
			 2007/8 733.09 439.91 293.19 
			 2008/9 686.11 377.18 308.93 
			 2009/10 572.74 274.13 298.62 
			 2010/11 (Not Complete(7)) 322.86 169.69 153.17 
		
	
	World Area of Origin based on a client's nationality. The mapping for "world areas" are based on the present day.
	The EU Accession states are listed as EU member states for the entire back series.
	Source: 100% extract from National Insurance Recording & Pay As You Earn System
	Notes
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten and displayed in thousands. Some additional disclosure control has been applied.
	2. Registration date is derived from the date at which a NINo is maintained on the National Insurance Recording & Pay As You Earn System.
	3. World Area of Origin Based on a client's nationality. The mapping for 'world areas' are based on the present day.
	4. Data is not yet available after September 2010
	5. Data are available on the Department's tabulation tool at http://83.244.183.180/100pc/tabtool.html
	6. Time Series-Year Of Registration Dates are based on an annual reporting period 1 April-31 March.
	
		
			 NINo Registrations to Adult Overseas Nationals entering the UK (Thousands), European Union member states (excluding UK), 2002 - September 2010 
			   Nationality   
			  Total EU member states Austria Belgium Denmark Finland France Germany Greece 
			  (Thousands) (Thousands) (Thousands) (Thousands) (Thousands) (Thousands) (Thousands) (Thousands) 
			 Total 2486.95 11.93 15.43 17.58 11.22 152.22 107.72 26.87 
			 Time Series - Financial Year Of Registration Date 
			 Jan-02 to Mar-02 21.78 0.28 0.36 0.54 0.31 3.48 2.09 0.81 
			 2002/3 97.76 1.23 1.66 2.21 1.40 13.73 9.45 3.36 
			 2003/4 114.26 1.18 1.44 2.26 1.32 13.13 9.97 2.95 
			 2004/5 197.55 1.22 1.43 1.90 1.16 13.18 10.44 2.69 
			 2005/6 374.52 1.51 1.77 2.34 1.38 17.23 13.39 3.40 
			 2006/7 420.25 1.55 2.01 2.28 1.36 20.01 15.07 3.53 
			 2007/8 439.91 1.66 2.02 1.82 1.36 21.77 15.53 3.29 
			 2008/9 377.18 1.61 2.23 2.00 1.31 24.01 15.42 3.15 
			 2009/10 274.13 1.03 1.59 1.47 1.00 16.45 10.62 2.32 
			 2010/11 (Not Complete(5)) 169.69 0.66 0.93 0.78 0.64 9.22 5.75 1.37 
		
	
	
		
			  Italy Luxembourg Netherlands Portugal Rep of Ireland Spain Sweden Rep of Estonia Czech Rep Slovak Rep Hungary Rep of Latvia 
			 Total (Thousands) (Thousands) (Thousands) (Thousands) (Thousands) (Thousands) (Thousands) (Thousands) (Thousands) (Thousands) (Thousands) (Thousands) 
			 Time Series - Financial Year Of Registration Date 108.26 0.55 56.10 101.86 88.17 105.40 38.01 13.24 67.93 143.35 73.24 89.10 
			 Jan-02 to Mar-02 1.90 0.01 1.21 1.59 2.03 2.56 0.97 0.04 0.26 0.23 0.17 0.07 
			 2002/3 8.35 0.05 4.91 9.63 8.66 11.61 3.83 0.17 1.15 0.98 0.72 0.41 
			 2003/4 8.32 0.05 5.74 14.08 9.60 11.97 3.53 0.23 1.17 1.42 0.99 0.73 
			 2004/5 7.86 0.05 6.77 12.20 8.68 9.66 3.47 1.70 7.36 11.11 3.80 6.32 
			 2005/6 11.21 0.07 7.73 11.64 10.34 11.08 4.77 3.02 13.24 27.51 8.56 14.40 
			 2006/7 12.80 0.08 7.66 10.81 9.97 10.69 4.92 2.05 11.65 28.60 10.74 11.03 
			 2007/8 15.40 0.08 7.13 11.46 10.06 10.92 4.96 1.38 11.13 29.99 13.31 7.79 
			 2008/9 18.63 0.08 6.95 14.51 11.46 13.77 5.02 1.70 10.23 24.09 16.18 10.45 
			 2009/10 14.41 0.06 4.90 9.82 10.32 13.19 4.20 1.83 7.79 13.25 11.54 23.20 
			 2010/11 (Not Complete(5)) 9.39 0.02 3.10 6.13 7.04 9.95 2.34 1.12 3.95 6.17 7.22 14.6 
		
	
	
		
			  Rep of Lithuania Poland Rep of Slovenia Malta Cyprus Bulgaria Romania 
			 Total (Thousands) (Thousands) (Thousands) (Thousands) (Thousands) (Thousands) (Thousands) 
			 Time Series - Financial Year Of Registration Date 156.74 925.78 3.94 4.12 7.49 70.24 90.46 
			 Jan-02 to Mar-02 0.30 1.07 0.07 0.07 0.10 0.90 0.36 
			 2002/3 1.82 5.89 0.22 0.21 0.31 3.94 1.85 
			 2003/4 3.83 11.26 0.22 0.22 0.30 5.18 3.17 
			 2004/5 15.54 61.12 0.82 0.47 0.78 4.52 3.29 
			 2005/6 30.94 171.08 0.50 0.61 1.11 2.83 2.88 
			 2006/7 23.92 220.43 0.53 0.66 1.07 2.85 3.98 
			 2007/8 19.03 210.66 0.54 0.59 1.11 13.96 22.95 
			 2008/9 17.62 134.36 0.54 0.60 1.32 15.99 23.95 
			 2009/10 23.42 69.94 0.33 0.41 0.86 12.51 17.68 
			 2010/11 (Not Complete(5)) 20.34 39.96 0.17 0.28 0.54 7.56 10.35 
		
	
	World Area of Origin Based on a client's nationality. The mapping for "world areas" are based on the present day.
	The EU Accession states are listed as EU member states for the entire back series.
	Source: 100% extract from National Insurance Recording & Pay As You Earn System
	Notes
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten and displayed in thousands. Some additional disclosure control has been applied.
	2. Registration date is derived from the date at which a NINo is maintained on the National Insurance Recording & Pay As You Earn System.
	3. World Area of Origin Based on a client's nationality. The mapping for "world areas"' are based on the present day.
	4. Data are not available prior to 2002.
	5. Data are not yet available after September 2010.
	6. Data are available on the department's tabulation tool at http://83.244.183.180/100pc/tabtool.html
	7. Time Series - Year Of Registration Dates are based on an annual reporting period 1 April - 31 March.

National Insurance

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Romanians and Bulgarians in total have been allocated national insurance numbers since those countries' accession to the European Union; how many of those were for self-employment; and how many such nationals have been issued with accession worker cards and under which card categories.

Lord Freud: The available information is in the table below. Information relating to self-employment National Insurance Number (NINo) registrations is not available; such information is required as part of the NINo allocation decision- making process, but is not held centrally on IT systems.
	
		
			 Table 1: 
			 NINo Registrations to Bulgarian and Romanian Adult Nationals entering the UK (Thousands). Time Series - Financial year Of Registration Date 
			  Total Bulgaria Romania 
			 Total 135.74 54.12 81.62 
			 Jan-07 to Mar-07 3.69 1.43 2.26 
			 2007/8 36.91 13.96 22.95 
			 2008/9 39.94 15.99 23.95 
			 2009/10 30.19 12.51 17.68 
			 2010/11 (Not Complete) 25.01 10.23 14.78 
		
	
	Source: 100% extract from National Insurance Recording & Pay As You Earn System Notes:
	1. Definitions and conventions: Figures are rounded to the nearest ten and displayed in thousands. Some additional disclosure control has been applied.
	2. Registration date is derived from the date at which a NINo is maintained on the National Insurance Recording & Pay As You Earn System.
	3. Most recent data is at December 2010.
	4. Bulgaria and Romania both gained entry to the European Union in January 2007.
	5. Time Series - Financial Year Of Registration Date Years are Financial based (1 Apr - 31 Mar).
	6. Data are published at http://83.244.183.180/mgw/live/tabtool.html
	Separate information relating to the number of Bulgarian and Romanian Nationals issued with accession worker cards and under which card categories has been provided by UK Borders Agency below:
	
		
			 Table 2: 
			 Issuance to Bulgarian and Romanian nationals of accession worker cards, registration certificates, Sector Based Scheme (SBS) approvals and Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) workcards by year of application. 
			 Accession Worker Cards  Registration Certificates (including students, self-employed, highly skilled and those who cease to be subject to work authorisation after 12 months authorised employment) Sector Based Scheme Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme 
			 Total Bulgarian and Romanian nationals Approved Approved Approved Approved 
			 2007 4,100 32,430 1,405 8,060 
			 2008 2,775 19,570 1,570 16,460 
			 2009 2,095 21,480 775 20,180 
			 2010 2,555 25,135 600 17,150 
			 2011Q1 145 975 155 7,935 
			 Total Bulgarian nationals 
			 2007 1,810 10,145 1,160 5,640 
			 2008 1,505 6,260 1,380 10,835 
			 2009 915 6,820 705 12,420 
			 2010 780 7,690 450 9,970 
			 2011Q1 40 240 115 4,285 
			 Total Romanian nationals 
			 2007 2,295 22,285 245 2,420 
			 2008 1,270 13,305 190 5,630 
			 2009 1,185 14,660 70 7,760 
			 2010 1,775 17,445 150 7,180 
			 2011Q1 105 735 40 3,645 
		
	
	Source: Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Main Tables - Q1 2011 (January to March 2011)
	Footnote:
	1) Figures rounded to the nearest five and may not sum to the totals shown because of independent rounding.
	2) Accession Cards are issued for A2 (Romanian and Bulgarian) nationals who are skilled workers. The Sectors Based Scheme allows A2 nationals to do low-skilled work in the food manufacturing sector. The scheme is quota based and the 2011 quota is set at 3,500. The Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme is also a quota-based scheme allowing farmers and growers in the United Kingdom to recruit low-skilled A2 nationals to undertake short-term agricultural work. The quota in 2010 and 2011 the quota is for 21,250 places.

Northern Ireland Office: Scientific Advisers

Lord Willis of Knaresborough: To ask Her Majesty's Government who is the Departmental Chief Scientific Adviser for the Northern Ireland Office; and (a) when they were appointed and for how long, (b) what is their academic or experience background, (c) what is their civil service rank, (d) whether their post is full-time or part-time, and what other work commitments they have, and (e) on how many occasions during the past year they have had meetings with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland or the Minister to whom they have direct responsibility.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: The Northern Ireland Office does not have a Departmental Chief Scientific Advisor.

Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many tickets for the Olympic Games 2012 have been reserved for the use of HM Government.

Baroness Garden of Frognal: The Government, along with Olympic venues outside of London, have been allocated 8,815 tickets for the Games-about 0.1 per cent of the 8.8 million available.
	The tickets will be used to promote economic growth, build international relations and reward young people taking part in the School Games. Some will be given to host towns and cities outside of London and others will be made available through a ballot for staff who have been heavily involved in delivering the Games (and paid for at cost by those staff members).
	The allocations are:
	paid for by the Government-3,750
	school Games-450
	business leaders and dignitaries-3,300;
	paid for by staff working on the Games-3,000; and
	paid for by the relevant host town or city-2,065.

Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many tickets for the Paralympic Games 2012 have been reserved for the use of HM Government.

Baroness Garden of Frognal: No decisions have yet been taken on whether the Government will apply for Paralympic tickets.

Overseas Aid

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of official development assistance was allocated to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development DAC codes 13010 (Population Police and Administrative Management), 13020 (Reproductive Health Care), 13030 (Family Planning), 13040 (Sexually Transmitted Disease control) and 13081 (Personnel development for population and reproductive health) in (a) 2005-06, (b) 2007-08, and (c) 2009-10.

Baroness Verma: Details of UK official development assistance (ODA) are published on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Development Assistance Committee (OECD DAC) website (www.oecd.org/dac) and are available to download from their online database at http://stats.oecd.org/qwids/. The relevant figures are reproduced below.
	
		
			  2005 £m % UK ODA 2006 £m % UK ODA 2007 £m % UK ODA 2008 £m % UK ODA 2009 £m % UK ODA 
			 Total UK ODA 5926  6770  4921  6356  7223  
			 Population policy and administrative management 2 <1 1 <1 3 <1 2 <1 0 <1 
			 Reproductive health care 37 1 32 <1 53 1 111 2 78 1 
			 Family Planning 12 <1 6 <1 1 <1 11 <1 n/a  
			 STD control including HIV/AIDS 134 2 170 3 256 4 194 3 211 3 
			 Personnel development for population and reproductive health n/a  n/a  n/a  0 <1 0 <1

Overseas Aid

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of official development assistance will be allocated to Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development DAC codes 13010 (Population Police and Administrative Management), 13020 (Reproductive Health Care), 13030 (Family Planning), 13040 (Sexually Transmitted Disease control) and 13081 (Personnel development for population and reproductive health) in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, and (c) 2013-14.

Baroness Verma: Future UK official development assistance has not yet been allocated to this level of detail.

Overseas Aid

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of European Union official development assistance is allocated to middle income countries in (a) Europe, (b) Asia, (c) Africa, (d) Middle East, (e) Latin America, and (f) elsewhere.

Baroness Verma: The latest European Commission annual report on development assistance was produced in 2010, covering commitments and spending for 2009. The full report, which includes data on all regions, countries and sectors, is available in the library of the House and on the European Commission website at: http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/multimedia/publications/publications/annual-reports/2010_en.htm
	We expect the 2011 report, covering 2010 data, to be finalised in mid-2011 and available together with other documents and statistics on the European Commission website.

Overseas Aid

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much money each country receives from the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The figures below are ENPI commitments by country, in millions, for the period 2007-2010.
	South
	Algeria €220 Egypt €558Israel €8Jordan €265Lebanon €187Libya €8Morocco €654 Palestine €632 Syria €130Tunisia €300
	East
	Armenia €98.4 Azerbaijan €92 Belarus €20Georgia €120.4 Moldova €209.72 Russia €120Ukraine €494
	Multi-Country Programmes
	Inter-Regional Programmes €260.8 Regional Programme-South €343.3 Regional Programme-East €223.5
	Cross-border Co-operation Programmes
	€277.1
	Governance Facility and Neighbourhood Investment Fund
	€400
	Grand total €5,621.20
	More data are available on the European Neighbourhood Policy website at http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/funding_ en.htm

Pensions

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sassoon on 17 May (WA 310-11), where the figures in table 1C of the Independent Public Service Pensions Commission's interim report provide a breakdown of both median and average figures of service length for the largest public service pension schemes; and whether they will commission and maintain a full accounting of all public sector pension schemes and their liabilities.

Lord Sassoon: Table 1.0 of the Independent Public Service Pensions Commission's interim report, published on 7 October 2010, provides a breakdown of median and average pensions in payment for the largest public service pension schemes. As noted in my previous Answer, it does not show the average lengths of service associated with these payments. More detailed information may be available from departments that lead on individual public service pension schemes.
	Individual public service pension schemes publish resource accounts compliant with international accounting standards, including disclosure of pension scheme liabilities.
	The commission's final report recommends establishing a framework that ensures independent oversight of the governance, administration and data transparency of public service pension schemes. The Government have accepted the recommendations of the commission as a basis for consultation with public sector workers, trade unions and others.

Public Sector: Terms and Conditions

Lord Morris of Manchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 8 June (WA 144), whether the information on the website referred to could be provided in tabular form, or summarised if necessary, in the Official Report.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: I have placed a copy of the table in the Library of the House and sent a copy to the Noble Lord.

Publications: Information and Press Offices Directory

Lord Rogan: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they propose to publish the next edition of the Information and Press Offices Director.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Central Office of Information. I have asked the chief executive to reply to the noble Lord.
	Letter from Graham Hooper, Joint Chief Executive for Central Office of Information, to Lord Rogan, dated 14 June 2011.
	As chief executive of the Central Office of Information (COI), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question HL9776 asking when the next edition of The White Book will be published.
	The COI is currently collating information and will then produce a new edition of The White Book, formally known as the Information and Press Officers Directory, based on staffing returns as at June 2011. The intention is to update this bi-annually and make it available on subscription.

Religious Freedom

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will appoint a special envoy for international freedom of religion and belief, and re-establish a Foreign and Commonwealth Office Freedom of Religion Panel to advise the Government on violations of religious freedom and methods of promoting religious freedom.

Lord Howell of Guildford: My noble friend has written to my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with a series of recommendations for how the Government should strengthen their policy to promote freedom of religion or belief overseas, including the ideas contained in this question. The Foreign Secretary will reply to my noble friend in due course. I will ensure that a copy of his response is placed in the Library of the house.

Sport: Cricket

Lord Naseby: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much public money was used to stage the first test match between England and Sri Lanka at Cardiff.

Baroness Garden of Frognal: Neither the Department for Culture, Media and Sport nor their sporting bodies, UK Sport and Sport England, provided any funding towards the staging of the first test match between England and Sri Lanka. As sport is a devolved matter, they have also contacted colleagues in the Welsh Government, who have advised that the Welsh Government did not provide any funding.

Sudan

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of who has been responsible for the fighting in Kadugli, the Sudanese capital of Southern Kordofan; of the number of people who have been displaced; of the role of the United Nations mission; and of the humanitarian and security implications.

Baroness Verma: Our initial reporting from Kadugli suggests that violence has been carried out by both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Sudan People's Liberation Army.
	The latest unconfirmed reports from the UN that we have received indicate that about 53,000 people have fled fighting in Kadugli. Some of these displaced people have turned to UNMIS for refuge, and are now camping by their gates. The role of UNMIS is critical in the protection of these civilians, as such we welcome the additional deployment of a Bangladeshi battalion to enable UNMIS to carry out this role.
	We are very concerned that the continuing violence will have a negative impact on the long-term security and humanitarian situation. Together with our international partners, we are supporting the AU-facilitated negotiations to resolve their differences. We are urgently pressing both parties to cease hostilities and seek a peaceful resolution to their differences.
	Emergency humanitarian co-ordination meetings have taken place on a regular basis in Khartoum and Juba. At present, lack of access hinders a more accurate assessment.

Sudan

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether recent events in Abyei and South Kordofan will affect the United Kingdom's intention to grant official recognition to the Republic of South Sudan on 9 July.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We are greatly concerned at the violence in Abyei and South Kordofan, however the UK still expects to recognise the state of South Sudan on or after 9 July 2011.

Sudan

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to persuade the Government of Sudan to seek a negotiated future for the 75,000 Sudan People's Liberation Army soldiers in Joint Integrated Units in South Kordofan and Blue Nile regions of Sudan.

Lord Howell of Guildford: This issue forms a part of wider discussions on the Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. We continue to urge both sides to come to an agreement on the long term Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration process, cease hostilities immediately and return to the negotiating table. Michael Ryder, the UK Special Envoy to Sudan, visited Addis Ababa on 12 and 13 June, to participate in talks intended to find a negotiated solution.

Sudan

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the displacement of the Ngok Dinka people from Abyei, Sudan, and the attempt to prevent supplies from reaching them by closing the border, constitutes a policy of ethnic cleansing; and whether they will provide extra assistance so that the Dinka Ngok people can survive in areas of Northern Warrap, and are not forced to move further South away from Abyei.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We are very concerned at reports that native Ngok Dinka have been driven out of their homes in Abyei since the Sudanese Armed Forces' (SAF) take-over of Abyei which began on 21 May. We have condemned this in the strongest terms and have called on the SAF to withdraw their troops immediately, in accordance with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. However, we have not seen evidence that this constitutes a deliberate attempt at ethnic cleansing on the part of the Government in Khartoum. We believe that any lasting solution to the Abyei problem must make provision for both the settled Ngok Dinka population and the nomadic Misseriya.

Sudan

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the number of people displaced from Abyei, Sudan.

Lord Howell of Guildford: According to reports received from the UN sources, it is estimated that over 100,000 people have been displaced since the start of violence in Abyei on 21 May. At present, lack of access hinders a more accurate assessment. We are working with the United Nations to ensure that once security and access is achieved, assistance will quickly reach these displaced civilians.

Sudan

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the impact on the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of recent events in Abyei and South Kordofan, Sudan.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We are deeply concerned by the Sudanese Armed Forces' takeover of Abyei, and the recent violence in South Kordofan. It is clear that these events undermine the efforts to reach a successful conclusion to the African Union (AU) facilitated Comprehensive Peace Agreement negotiations.
	Presidents Bashir and Kiir attended talks in Addis Ababa aimed at resolving the current situation. We continue to support the AU's efforts including through the presence of Michael Ryder, UK Special Envoy, in Addis Ababa.

Sudan

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what reports they have received of the destruction of churches, including the Episcopal cathedral, following attacks in Southern Kordofan.

Lord Howell of Guildford: Many buildings in Southern Kordofan have been destroyed, and there are reports of people being targeted for their religious and ethnic backgrounds. Given the difficulty of independent access within the region we are not in a position to confirm the reported destruction of the cathedral.

Sudan

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the aerial bombardment of Parieng County of South Sudan's Unity State and of recent fighting in Kadugli, Southern Kordofan.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We are very concerned at the latest reports of violence in South Kordofan, which include continued fighting in Kadugli and aerial bombardments in several locations across the State. Our latest information is that this bombing extends to contested areas at the north of Unity State. We call on all parties to immediately cease hostilities and engage constructively in the African Union-facilitated talks in Addis Ababa.

Tote

Viscount Astor: To ask Her Majesty's Government what racing organisations will receive the 50 per cent share of the net proceeds from the sale of the Tote; and how the proceeds will be split amongst the recipients.

Baroness Garden of Frognal: I refer my noble friend to the Written Ministerial Statement of 7 June (Official Report, col. WS7). The Government look forward to working closely with racing to discuss the detail and to design appropriate arrangements for the disbursement of the substantial share of the net proceeds of the Tote sale from which racing will benefit.

Tractors

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the European Union directive concerning the design of rollover safety features on mini tractors involving 38 pages of fitting instructions; whether such directives are consistent with their policy of simplifying regulation; and whether they can give an assurance that the directive does not constitute a non-tariff barrier against Japanese manufacturers.

Lord Freud: Directive 86/298/EEC of the European Parliament and Council concerns rear-mounted roll-over protection structures (ROPS) for "narrow-track" agricultural and forestry tractors. It specifies the technical requirements for the design and performance of such structures to protect the operator in the event of a roll-over incident.
	As an alternative to complying with the directive, it is permissible to comply with an international (OECD) standard. This ensures the directive does not constitute a non-tariff barrier to trade. The Health and Safety Executive is not aware of any complaints about the directive in these respects from Japanese or any other manufacturers.

Unemployment

Lord Sharkey: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 6 June (WA 77), what steps they are taking to reduce high and persistent levels of unemployment, particularly youth unemployment, on the Isle of Wight.

Lord Freud: We are doing many things to support those that are unemployed, including implementing the Work Programme, which has recently gone live and will roll out around the country, including the Isle of Wight, through June.
	The Work Programme will be the single biggest payment-by-results employment programme the United Kingdom has ever seen, providing personalised support to an expected 2.4 million claimants overt the next five years to help them find and sustain employment.
	Work Programme providers will not be required to deliver centrally specified support, which may be inappropriate for many claimants, but instead will be given the freedom to innovate and develop personalised support. In return for this freedom, they will be paid on the basis of the results they achieve.
	For the Work Programme to be successful we need to tap into the experience, knowledge and specialist skills of local partners in order to deliver the personalised and localised services required in today's labour market. We expect prime providers to engage with local partners and work with a broad range of sub-contractors to deliver the tailored, targeted support that can help individuals from all claimant groups into work.
	In addition to this, the support Jobcentre Plus advisers have available to offer is being bolstered with a series of Get Britain Working measures, for which Government are asking for the active engagement of employers, partners and claimants themselves in every community in Britain.
	From April 2011 we have put in place a much more flexible and personalised approach to the way Jobcentre Plus delivers to claimants. Jobcentre Plus managers and advisers will have far more flexibility to judge which interventions will help its claimants, tailored to personal and local labour market needs.
	We are also committed to supporting young people into work. In this year's Budget the Chancellor announced funding for up to 100,000 work experience placements over the next two years as part of our support for moving young people into the world of work and providing them with the experience that employers tell us is really important. We are also funding up to 40,000 additional apprenticeship places for young unemployed people over the life of this Parliament and plan to introduce an extension to Work Experience placements where employers want to offer a young person an apprenticeship to help smooth the transition for both the employer and the young person.
	The Prime Minister recently announced an enhanced £60 million package of support including a £30 million Innovation Fund, provision of early access Work Programme places for vulnerable 18 year-olds, and additional support for 16 and 17 year-old jobseeker's allowance claimants.
	We have also announced measures to improve and support vocational training including sector-based work academies and access to apprenticeships for vulnerable young people.

Water Management: Overseas

Lord Hunt of Chesterton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what policies they will introduce following the resolution of the World Meteorological Congress in May-June 2011 to improve the international exchange and publication of data on water resources.

Lord Henley: The Government will continue to implement the policy on the exchange of hydrological data and products agreed by the thirteenth World Meteorological Congress in 1999. There were no changes to that policy at the recent sixteenth congress.